The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-28


to help the citizens Of tn. ID Thir-
teen States to educate their children,
who by their own bounty educate tie
people Of the West. But then comes
along some constitutional objection
which holds that it is not within the
power Of the people to educate the
people.
Mr.. Chairman, i cannot understand
it. l cannot see how 1T is in the
power Of the people to shoot down q
man who does not obey the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and that it
is not within the power Of that peo-
pie to teach q man to read that Con.
st;tution. (Applause) I don't see
now it is contrary to the Constitution
that the States needing money for the
educatian Of their children cannot be
helped out in this emergency. For
popular education at this time, and
in the future is, and will be, para
mount consideration. Ali classes of
Europeans are coming here and
spreading themselves over our cont.
mental territory; and here are to be
decided the great questions that are
now agitating the world, such as the
relations of capital to labor, and the
grave social questions thst are vex-
ing the Old World. These cannot
be decided in Europe for the reason
of the absence Of the power of free
discussion and agitation.
The question now is, what part
will the men of this generation take
il these problems, and can they be
solved at all, if the idea Of free edu-
cation is thrust to the bottom in the
scale Of the principles on which the
Republic is founded? The solution
of these problems must come by de-
bate and can never be settled with
the sword. But no step forward will
ever be taken until we have, by the
power Of the Republic, extended the
blessings Of the free schools to every
grade of society. 1t is in these
schools that the children Of the Re.
public first learn that great principle
that the majority must rule, as illus
trated even in their games of tops
and marbles ard other toys.
Ny friend, Gen. Johnston, said
that he would not make speech on
education. / will, and am in favor
of the development Of every special
talent that may exist in the growing
generation. IF there be one among
them who shows special capability
even for the forging of horseshoe
let him have the means Of developing
that capability. If there be one of
whom a John G.. Calhoun may be
made, let him lave the opportunity
in proper school.
After all, the people Will always
work out their own destiny in their
own way. They may be, after all.
wrong in the means proposed, but
they will almost invariably be right
and patriotic in their sentiments, and
I would earnestly impress it upon
the young men here that they are
some day to become part of the his
tory Of this country, and that they
will be called upon to extend this
system of free education throughout
the South, in order that the South
may take its proper place in the great
Questions of the present and future.
Not long ago a speech was deliv-
cred in New York by speaker from
neighboring State, who spoke of
the New South" Well, when |
came here I looked for this New
South" But can that section be
called New South" which invites
here the people of the North to buy
up our lands and mines and coal and
iron, and send North for educated
labor for their development? That
reminds me, Mr.. Chairman, Of the
Old South that sat on the fence and
looked at others at work. Uaughter.) }
l say, Mr.. Chairman. that this Will
never be New South until it has as
much free education as the West has
had at the expense of the Govern
ment. Never shall it be 8 New
South until its own children delve in
its own mines and drag from the
earth the minerals and ores that be.
long to them. Have We not still tic
DID South, and the people at the
North developing it for their own
ben.fit? l wish that the young men
Of this :and could see with the vision
Of that Old pruphe:-I DO not mean
DR.. Eed3er.-the Importance Of the
question OF public education. !
wish that they could see as | do that
in this so-called New South We are